Citation

Freburger JK, Callahan LF, Shreffler JH, Mielenz TJ. J. Appl. Gerontol. 2010; 29(4): 395-414.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0733464809340155

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Few studies have examined the effects of physical activity on sleep in older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the short- and long-term effects of an 8-week, low-to-moderate-intensity physical activity program on improvements in sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of community-based older adults with arthritis (N = 346). Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group or control group that received the intervention on a delayed basis. Sleep and HROQL were assessed with self-report instruments at baseline and 8 weeks using intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) analyses. The intervention group was also assessed at 3 and 6 months. At 8 weeks, the intervention group reported fewer days waking up tired (ITT and AT results) and fewer days waking up at night and/or having poor mental health (AT results). Treatment effects were not maintained at 3 and 6 months.